Just got this little, tiny coin and I can't seem to find much that really matches both sides. The obverse has a tiny indistinct bust appearing right (or maybe left?) with a blocky chest, and some sort of ill-defined legend around (possibly ending with IC?). No complex monogram here! The reverse has a thin cross and looks like it's surrounded by a wreath, no traces of a legend that I can see. 10-11mm, 0.65g And help in possible direction or suggestions are greatly appreciated!
Looks like a Vandals or Vandals-era issue to me but I know almost nothing about them. The reverse looks like it has letters, or things which are supposed to be letters. Calling @ValiantKnight... Instead of a wreath, maybe the marks surrounding the cross potent are just repeated I-like marks, like this Vandals minimus from CNG's archives: 390, Lot: 629. Estimate $100. Sold for $110. This amount does not include the buyer’s fee. VANDALS. Pseudo-Imperial coinage. Circa 440-490. Æ Minimus (9mm, 0.39 g, 6h). II [ ] IIIIII, pearl-diademed, draped, and cuirassed bust right / IIII[ ]IIII, cross potent; III. MEC 1, –; BMC Vandals 175. VF, hard brown surfaces, areas of weak strike at periphery,reverse off center.
I agree that it is probably a Vandalic-era imitation. With unidentified AE4s with cross reverses, start with Theodosius II (D N THEODOSIVS P F AVG). His are by far the most plentiful. Most of his cross reverse coins lack reverse legends, but if there is an inscription, assume that it is CONCORDIA unless some of the letters preclude this. Arcadius is the next most common, but he lags far behind. In your case, neither of these assumptions seem particularly justified, so that's why I'm thinking imitation. Either that, or it is heavily damaged, which is also possible.
Thanks everyone! I'm wondering if what I'm seeing as an IC on the right of the obverse is actually the tie of a diademed tiny head facing left? Similar to that of Trasamund or Hilderic, but left? http://forumancientcoins.com/Articles/Carthage.htm The blocky, square-y chest and similar to some of the Hilderic in acsearch: https://www.acsearch.info/search.ht...s=1&thesaurus=1&order=0¤cy=usd&company=
